February fill-dike

English

Alternative forms

• February fill-dyke (or without a hyphen)

Proper noun

February fill-dike

1. A rural appellation for the month of February, when rain or melting snow fills dykes with water.
   • 1837 William Hone - The every-day book and table-book; or, Everlasting calendar of popular amusements

     Regarding the season, there is an old proverb worthy noticing: February fill dike, be it black or be it white.

   • 1851 Thomas Sternberg - The Dialect and Folk-lore of Northamptonshire

     January white, February fill-dike.

   • 1997 -- Marion Kelsey: Victory Harvest: Diary of a Canadian in the Women's Land Army (page 174) [1]

     Doris, in her terror, had forgotten that February fill-dike is upon us

Translations

References

• OED 2nd edition 1989